Hello! I’m Coco, an artist using origami to change the way people see the world. I create unique experiences that leave a lasting memory.

My work fuses this traditional Japanese art form with modern technology, producing accessible, playful art as well as creative marketing campaigns for high profile global brands.

I can help you find beautiful and original ways to connect with new audiences or inspire people to bring about positive change.

I bring my deep understanding of Japanese wisdom and culture to everything I do, from TV appearances (Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 2016, Channel 4) to marketing campaigns such as Lexus International, House of Fraser Christmas 2016, Victorinox Spring 2017, Shiseido Spring 2017 to writing a book and collaborative projects such as Roborigami, which combines robotics and origami to create playful Zen spaces. I also put together community projects for museums and international cultural festivals.

Origami starts with one small fold in a piece of paper – where it ends is up to you! Let’s work together to create something extraordinary.

If you like what I do, please connect with me on social media or reach out to me through my contact page with any commission, sponsorship, media and other enquiries. Click here to browse my portfolio to see examples of my work for previous clients and personal projects.

Why (Giant) Origami?

I have practiced origami all my life. In Japan, origami is something everyone does with family and friends; it’s a creative play that is deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

The most iconic example of this may be an ancient Japanese legend promising that anyone who folds 1000 origami cranes will be granted eternal good luck, such as a long life or recovery from illness or injury.

I love the way it creates something from nothing; I don’t need any special tools in order to practice it. I also love colour so colourful paper is the perfect medium for me – and it can inspire anyone to be creative.

I started making Giant Origami while teaching a children’s art class in 2009. Traditionally, origami are made very small so you need to get very close to appreciate what they are and how they are made. During the art class, what I demonstrated needed to be easily seen from a distance, and I realised that the giant origami had a great visual impact.

Since then, ‘Giant Origami’ has grown organically. I had often felt that Japanese culture was showcased in an extremely biased, and stereotypical way, with clichés such as geishas and sumo wrestlers, manga and anime and the hi-tech neon image of modern Tokyo.

For me, this is far from what true Japanese culture is about. I wanted to introduce people to something more real and tangible; something that is part of everyday life in Japan and that I enjoyed as a child.

I believe Giant Origami enables my audience to make an emotional connection with a Japanese ritual that might otherwise seem detached or alien.